Olmesartan, brand name Benicar among others, is a medication used to treat hypertension.
It is taken orally.
Versions are available as the combination olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide and olmesartan/amlodipine.
Common side effects include dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, and back pain.
Serious side effects may include kidney problems, low blood pressure, and angioedema.
Use in pregnancy may harm the fetus and use when breastfeeding is not recommended.
It is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist and works by blocking the effects of angiotensin II.
It is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in people aged six years of age and older to lower blood pressure.
Contraindications for treatment with olmesartan include biliary obstruction, and pregnancy.
The only adverse effect that occurs in >1% of patients treated with it and more frequently than placebo is dizziness (3% vs 1%).
Rarely can cause severe gastrointestinal issues.
The symptoms, which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and electrolyte abnormalities, are common among those who have celiac disease.
Bioavailability 26%
Metabolism- Liver
Itcannot be removed by hemodialysis.
Elimination half-life 13 hours
Excretion- Kidney 40%, bile duct 60%
Identifiers
An ester prodrug, it is completely and rapidly hydrolyzed to its active acid form.
Olmesartan has demonstrated benefits in reducing the progression of atherosclerotic buildup in arteries, reduce the levels of markers of vascular inflammation.